Just One Marathon

Temper Run

I did my long run last weekend in a bad mood. I was in a snit about something stupid when I left the house and then it started to rain -- hard. Squelchy socks hard. Can’t see through your glasses hard. Never mind the tempo run; bring on the temper run.

At times like this, all I can think is: thank God for the ‘Pod. No sexy music this time, though – crank up the cranky. Which was good, because angry music can really fuel my run. I started mentally compiling a list of songs in the key of C (for crabby). Here’s a short list:

§         What’s Up? 4 Non Blondes. When they talk about spending 25 years trying to get up that great big hill, I can really relate. Of course, they probably weren’t talking about running.

§         Jesus Walks, Kanye West. West sings with anger and passion about looking for answers in a life that offers few good choices. All to a propulsive marine-corps-march beat.

§         You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette. As an ex-girlfriend, she’d be your worst nightmare. But she rocks as a running buddy.

§         Wasteland of the Free, Iris Dement. Whether or not you agree with her politics, it’s hard to resist Dement’s willingness to lay it all on the line on this song – everything that makes her spitting mad. Gives me chills, in a good way.

§         Not Ready to Make Nice, The Dixie Chicks. I hope they never make nice.

I have to admit that by the end of my run, I was sort of reveling in all that musical rage. I mean, if you’re going to run in a pissy mood, you might as well enjoy yourself, right?

RunSexy

Anyone who runs with music knows that different types of songs lead to different kinds of running. Upbeat tunes make you run fast. Contemplative songs are good for a slow, easy run. Uplifting music gives you a much-needed boost. I have all those kinds of songs on my iPod, but a really important part of my running mix is sexy music. Songs that make your hips sway and your body feel like it’s dancing as much as running.

Getting people to agree on the sexiest music, however, is like getting agreement on the best flavour of jelly bean. Here, for your consideration, are some running songs to make you feel you are making love to the road, dahling.

§         Hips Don’t Lie, Shakira with Wyclef Jean. Baby, like this is perfecto: running to this song makes me happy. But check out the freaky hip action on the video – I hope Shakira has a good chiropractor.

§         Musst, Musst (Lost in His Work), Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with Michael Brook. Alright, I’ll confess. I first heard this song on one of those Starbucks compilation CDs. Who knew my favourite selection would be a beautiful and hypnotic song by a singer described as “the Bob Marley of Pakistan”? But you gotta hear it.

§         Alphabet Street, Prince. Prince suggests you “jerk your body like a horny pony would”. If I see you doing this in public, I’ll run on the other side of the street.

§         The Sensual World, Kate Bush. You could read Molly Bloom’s monologue at the end of James Joyce’s Ulysses, which inspired this song. Or quote the song lyrics at cocktail parties and pretend you have.

Anyone else like running music that’s hot and heavy? Or am I just kinky?

iConfess

To some, if you run with an MP3 player, you are considered a lightweight. And possibly a tune-blasting, unsafe menace to drivers, cyclists and little children in strollers.

I’ve followed the controversy on-line and encountered it a little in my brief running experience. One of the local race organizers in my city used to ban the use of MP3s for safety reasons, but recently changed their rules and regs to state: “… we do allow you to wear such devices during the run, but we do advise you that you do so at your own risk.”

As a Reluctant Runner, I love to listen to my iPod while I’m on the road. Have I mentioned lately that I think exercise (including running) is boring and it hurts? Anything that takes my mind off the arduous task of getting from point A to B makes it better. Plus, it’s a lot like multi-tasking. While I run, I get a chance to listen to music and podcasts. Efficient. Hardly like running at all.

Plus, I think I’m actually very safe in my approach. I generally stick to the sidewalks and am usually vigilant and aware of my surroundings while I’m on a run. I believe most women runners are, given the risks of running alone in quiet areas.

The biggest risk I take is the possibility of being caught mid-verse on the too-frequent occasions when I just can’t help singing along. (This prospect is more embarrassing to my two adolescent boys than to me. After one run, I imagined for them the thought that a hunky guy might run past me while I was in the midst of singing along to Salt ‘N Pepa’s “What a Man”. They both found the mental picture so excruciating they had to leave the room.)

Lately, I’ve been listening to CBC Radio 3’s daily “New Music Canada Track of the Day” podcasts. Each day one of the program hosts features a track from an independent Canadian musician. It’s free, although if I like them, I download them from I-Tunes. The I can enjoy the song without the occasionally-pointless introductions by the host. (If you’re reading this and happen to be one of the podcasts hosts, I mean the other hosts, not you.) Here are three excellent songs I’ve heard on the program recently:

The High Dials – Things Are Getting Better

Nathan Wiley – High Low

The Bicycles – Please Don’t Go (couldn’t find this on I-Tunes, although they have a MySpace page.)

I’d love to hear how other people find new music to fuel their run.